If you’re waking up this morning, checking the fridge for wings, and wondering do the Dallas Cowboys play on Sunday, I’ve got some news that might sting a little. Honestly, it’s the kind of news Cowboys fans have become far too familiar with lately.
The short answer? No.
Dallas is not playing today. They aren't playing next week, either. While the NFL Divisional Round is currently in full swing—with huge matchups like the Rams taking on the Chicago Bears today, January 18, 2026—the Star is notably absent from the bracket.
Why aren't the Cowboys on the field today?
It basically comes down to a regular season that went off the rails. You’ve probably seen the highlights (or lowlights), but the Cowboys finished their 2025 campaign with a 7-9-1 record. That’s just not going to cut it in the NFC, especially when you consider they only managed a single win against teams that actually made the postseason this year.
Missing the playoffs for the second straight season is a bitter pill.
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Jerry Jones and the front office had high hopes, but a Week 18 loss to the New York Giants—a 34-17 drubbing on January 4—officially slammed the door on any "mathematical possibilities" fans were clinging to. Because of that, the AT&T Stadium lights are dark today, even though Ticketmaster and other sites had "TBD" playoff placeholders listed for this very weekend months ago. Those games have been officially canceled and refunded.
The 2026 Playoff landscape without Dallas
It’s weird seeing the playoffs move forward without the most valuable franchise in sports. If you’re looking for football to watch today, Sunday, January 18, you’re looking at the Divisional Round. Here is who actually has a jersey on:
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: A massive AFC clash that has everyone talking about whether the post-Belichick era in Foxborough is officially a dynasty reborn.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: This is the late-afternoon hammer. The Bears are hosting a playoff game at Soldier Field in January, which means "Bear weather" is a real factor.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, are already transitioning into "next year" mode. Brian Schottenheimer and the coaching staff are likely deep into exit interviews while fans debate whether Dak Prescott’s 4,500-yard season was a success or just empty calories.
The "Sunday Schedule" confusion
A lot of people keep asking if the Cowboys play today because of those early-season schedule leaks. Back in the summer, the NFL schedule-makers always pencil in window dates for the postseason. If you saw a calendar in August that said "NFC Divisional Game - AT&T Stadium," that was a conditional date.
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Since Dallas finished second in the NFC East (behind the 11-6 Philadelphia Eagles), they didn't earn the right to host—or even participate in—these games.
What happened to the 2025-2026 season?
You can’t talk about why they aren't playing today without looking at the "how." The season-defining stat, according to analysts at Sports Illustrated and Bleacher Report, was that 1-6-1 record against winning teams.
They beat the Chiefs on Thanksgiving in what was actually the most-watched regular-season game ever (57.2 million people tuned in!), but they couldn't find that same magic against the Eagles or the Lions. That Week 4 tie against the Packers? That’s the kind of thing that haunts a locker room when you miss the playoffs by a game or two.
What's next for the Cowboys?
Since there is no game this Sunday, the focus shifts entirely to the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency.
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- The Draft: Dallas will likely have a mid-round pick, somewhere around the 12th or 13th spot. Expect them to look heavily at the defensive interior.
- Coaching Rumors: With another year of missing the playoffs, the seat under the coaching staff is getting incredibly warm. Jerry Jones has been quiet lately, which usually means he's thinking.
- Roster Moves: We saw some bright spots this year. George Pickens proved he could be a true WR1, and Brandon Aubrey is still arguably the best kicker in the league. Building around those pieces is the priority now.
If you’re still looking to scratch that football itch today, just know that the road to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara continues without Dallas. The NFC Championship is set for next Sunday, January 25, and the Super Bowl itself will go down on February 8, 2026.
For now, the only thing the Cowboys are playing on Sunday is a round of golf.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Check your Ticketmaster or SeatGeek accounts if you bought "conditional" playoff tickets; refunds for the canceled January 18 Divisional game at AT&T Stadium should be processed within 14-21 days.
- Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl on January 31. Since the Cowboys are out, the front office will be scouting heavily in Mobile, Alabama, to find the pieces they need for a better 2026 run.
- Watch the Rams-Bears game today to see the level of physical defense the Cowboys will need to replicate if they want to be playing on this Sunday next year.